Job Posting: Agricultural Technician l Greenhouse/Lab (IAB Seasonal)

Department of Food & Agriculture

JC-441069
-
Agricultural Technician l Greenhouse/Lab (IAB Seasonal)
AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN I (SEASONAL)

$17.77 - $21.23 per Hour

Final Filing Date: 8/5/2024

Job Description and Duties

Per CCR 249.3, this job control may be used to fill subsequent vacancies.

Under the supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) with guidance from the Senior Plant Pathologist or lead Environmental Scientist, the Agricultural Technician I (Seasonal) is responsible for processing plant samples, strawberry indexing/testing, grafting plant samples and assisting in conducting ELISA testing.

• Graft plant samples to indicator plants to test for virus diseases and assist lead Environmental Scientist in identifying diseased greenhouse plants and processing them.

• Maintain plant identification and quality control by sorting participants’ plants into trays for testing, labeling with block number, plant number and date, and comparing plants that arrive for testing against paperwork to ensure correct identity and ownership.

• Conduct general greenhouse operations, and in the absence of the Environmental Scientist independently maintain operations which include watering and fertilizing plants and general maintenance of equipment.

• Prepare samples for testing by cutting plant sample tissue with razor blades or scalpels into small pieces.

• Grind the small tissue pieces in a ball-mill grinder/homogenizer with buffer.

• Transfer ground plant extracts into cube tubes (2 ml tubes) with pipettes.

• Deliver loaded cubes in proper arrangement to Serological Laboratory for ELISA testing using a State vehicle.

• Sanitize equipment and workstation before and after hand.

• Wash and dry equipment accordingly.

Candidates may perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

The duties of this position are performed indoors approximately 100% of the time. The employee’s workstation is located inside the laboratory building and is equipped with standard lab equipment. The noise level in the work environment is high when the steel-ball tissue homogenizer is in use.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-441069
Position #(s):
018-408-0034-996
Working Title:
Agricultural Technician l Greenhouse/Lab (IAB Seasonal)
Classification:
AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN I (SEASONAL)
$17.77 - $21.23
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Non-Tenured, Intermittent

Department Information

As part of the Pest Exclusion Branch, the Nursery, Seed, and Cotton Program (NS&C) is responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations that ensure the quality and orderly marketing of nursery, seed, and cotton plant products. The mission of the program is to prevent the introduction and spread of agricultural pests and diseases in nursery and seed products, thereby protecting California’s environment, agricultural systems, and consumers against economic losses. The program coordinates statewide regulatory and inspection activities with county agricultural commissioners. In addition, the program maintains registration and certification services which provide the agricultural industry with clean planting stock.

Special Requirements

A valid CA Driver’s License is required for this position.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 8/5/2024

Who May Apply

This is a non-testing Classification, therefore, anyone meeting the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification may apply for this position. Individuals in specific programs, such as the Welfare to Work Program, are encouraged to apply and will be given priority according to the applicable Laws and Rules. Please note on your application your current participation in these programs.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Food & Agriculture
Attn: Human Resource Branch JC-441069
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Food & Agriculture
Human Resource Branch JC-441069
1220 N Street, Room 242
Sacramento, CA 95814
ELECTRONIC APPLICATION IS PREFERRED. All mail or drop-off applications must include JC-441069
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Erica Moore
(916) 594-5176
erica.pearson@cdfa.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Office of Civil Rights
(916) 654-1005
Civil_Rights@cdfa.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Hard Copy Applications

If you are dropping off or mailing in your application, please use the Examination/Employment Application, STD 678 Revised 06/2024 version.

Additional Information

Please do not include any confidential information such as social security number, marital status, ethnicity, age, salary or disability information on any of the documentation uploaded with your online application.

If the classification you are applying for has an education requirement, transcripts will be required to verify you meet the minimum qualifications of the classification. Please be sure to redact any confidential information before uploading your transcripts.

Upon hire you may be required to provide official sealed transcripts or an original degree or certificate.

Applicants with foreign degrees may be asked to provide an official foreign transcript evaluation which indicates course work is equivalent to a degree from an accredited U.S. College or University.

This position may require a medical clearance.

Alternate Classifications and Training and Development assignments may be considered.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job